London Gatwick’s Northern Runway project cleared to proceed

London Gatwick’s £2.2 billion Northern Runway project can now move forward after the Court of Appeal rejected applications from campaigners seeking permission to appeal an earlier ruling. The decision confirms the UK Government’s September 2025 approval of the project and brings an eight-year planning and legal process to an end.

The project will allow Gatwick’s existing northern runway, currently used only when the main runway is unavailable, to operate routinely alongside it. This could increase the airport’s capacity to up to 80 million passengers a year, with dual-runway operations expected to begin in 2030. The plans also include changes to the airfield and terminal facilities, as well as improvements to surface access infrastructure.

Gatwick can now move into the design and delivery phase of the project. According to the airport, the expansion is expected to create 14,000 new jobs and generate an additional £1 billion for the economy each year.

More details are available in Gatwick Airport’s official announcement.